Lost River (2014)

Plot: A single mother is swept into a dark underworld, while
her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town.

My Review and Thoughts:

A wonderful modern piece of brilliant Americana. Flawless
acting. A tight, gripping and unique story. Solid direction. The whole film
gives a sense of a storybook like atmosphere. There is a haunting reality to
the film. The cinematography is beyond explanation, unless you have seen it. The
brutal reality of life in run down neighborhoods, buildings, homes and
dark settings of poverty, bleeds a realistic setting that plays with the
imagination.

The film is really hard to explain unless you have seen it.
This is a poetically surreal fever dream. A mother with two kids lives in a
town of Lost River. The town is falling apart and is in financial decline. Billy
wishes to keep her grandmother’s house. She has no means of income. After a
visit to the bank, the bank spokesperson, named Dave, lays out her reality. He
offers her a card. A job. Her oldest son, named Bones, lives his life stealing and
stripping cooper from rundown buildings to get money. The houses around are
being knocked down and destroyed. Billy strives to make money to pay for the
house. She is three months behind on rent and unless paid, the house will be
destroyed.

There is a jungle like atmosphere that Bones lives through.
There are two gang members that Bones, is always running from. The main thug is
simply known as Bully, played wonderfully by Matt Smith. Seeing him outside the
role of Doctor Who is amazing. I always knew he was a talented actor and this
part showcases his brilliance as a performer.

There is a dystopian style concept and imagery to the film.
The movie is very frightening in the realistic aspect of it. The poverty and
decline of culture and all the destruction around is saddening in that, it’s
not that far from the truth, or at least the concept of what could be.The
premises is that there is a folk tale around the town. Several of the towns
where flooded over when they released dam water, and covered the whole town,
which still remains under the water. Supposedly as legend goes, the area is
cursed and that is why Lost River has fallen.

The one and only horror icon of cinema has a small part in
this film; the one and only Barbara Steele. I grew up watching this beautiful
horror goddess. From classic’s like Black Sunday to the resurrection of Dark
Shadows in 1990, she is the very essence of star. This also stars a wonderful
cast of young performers. The stunningly beautiful and very talented Saoirse
Ronan, who plays the character of Rat. She aces the part and creates a believable
and soft performance. Also starring Iain De Caestecker as Bones. I have been
keeping an eye on him, he is a very talented young man and I feel he is one of
the best new shining stars around, at least I think so. The chemistry between
Caestecker and Ronan showcases acting brilliance. I have to mention Dave, the bank worker and
night club owner and sadistic perv, played flawlessly by Ben Mendelsohn.
Mendelsohn is extraordinary. His character and performance, has to be one of my new
favorites in cinema. Christina Hendricks is eye opening perfection in this role
as the mother character, named Billy. I also have mentioned Matt Smith, but I feel I need
to mention him again. His deep and dark role is masterly. He is utterly scary
in this part.

This is Ryan Goslings first directing job. He also wrote
this unique, fresh and somewhat fantasy laced story. Truly an original film. I
have grown to like several of Ryan’s acting films and now, he has taken up the
creative wonders of film making. This movie is
something to remember. For his first
directorial debut, unbelievable in my book. Ryan has become such a powerhouse,
not only as actor, but now as visionary in direction and story.

This is equals parts David Lynch and equal parts Nicolas
Winding Refn, but all original. There is so much un-reality. A nightmarish
simplicity, yet deep in the subconscious of the netherworld. It’s so hard to
fathom and explain with words. A night club of voyeuristic fake violence. A
dystopian mind screw. Karaoke, a rat named Nick, and a fetish of blood. This has
all the reality of Alejandro Jodorowsky, mixed around Ingmar Bergman’s
visionary expertise.

I have to mention the music and soundtrack. This was equal
parts masterpiece in ear listening and emotionally charged perfection. The
soundtrack to this film is one of the best around. It gives such vibes that it
controls you and makes you listen. Some of the best music that I have heard in
a very long time. Everyone that was involved in the sound department, music
department deserves accolades. The music by Johnny Jewel is pure ear candy.
Pure nightmarish and dream like wonderment. Johnny Jewel is a genius.

A lost feeling. A saddened emotional state of moral decay. A
violent trip down the rabbit hole. Artistically weaved inside the world of
horror. This movie scared me. Not in the sense of blood or monsters, but in the
sense of emotions. The movie felt so different. It was like living a nightmare, that you can’t get out of.